Compass,tape measure........???

[muttandjeeps]

Came out of the ground this morning from an 1800 estate, about 10 inches down and looks mostly complete,but......what is it?
Looks to be brass or bronze. My son thought tape measure, but have not seen and example like it. Any help with an ID would be appreciated!

 

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[cudamark]

Or maybe a chalk line? Is there a sliding door or an opening in the housing?

 

[mojjax]

Could there be a wheel at the bottom . If so it may be for measuring distances on a map .

 

[nhbenz]

Tape measure from a ladies chatelaine perhaps? It almost looks like there may be some text on the edge of it in the last picture... Or it could be my imagination, again.

 

[lockster99]

sure looks like a chalkline

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

Could it be the bottom of a broken clock pendulum?

 

[DCMatt]

 

[tamrock]

This ones weird. It has a ball mount on it for a bow like a pocket watch would have and it looks like it could unscrew to open up. It does look like a pendulum and I would expect a slot on the perimeter if it was a tape measure. What could this be

 

[Mackaydon]

It's probably not my first thought: baby's chamber pot
Don...

 

[lockster99]

Ok...ok. I got it now. Remember where I've seen one now. It's the reel for a plumb bob. Of course the handle is missing.

If I remember correctly, you had a ring or loop or something to hang it by where the ball looking thingie is. Lock the handle in place and let it swing freely.

Course I barely found my way home today...bad memory.